Imaging apparatus capable of interval photographing

ABSTRACT

In synchronous interval photographing by a plurality of imaging apparatuses, an imaging apparatus functioning as a master clocks a photographing interval in the interval photographing, sequentially generates photographing instruction signals at clocked photographing intervals, instructs its own imaging section to perform image photographing every time a photographing instruction signal is generated, and transmits the photographing instruction signal to the other imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus functioning as the slave instructs its own imaging section to perform image photographing every time a photographing instruction signal is received from the imaging apparatus functioning as the master.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/830,570, filed Aug. 19, 2015, which claims the benefit of the filingdate of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2014-171369, filed Aug. 26,2014, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imagingsystem, and a photographing method by which interval photographing ofsequentially photographing a plurality of images at predeterminedphotographing intervals can be performed.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional technology is known in which, when an imaging apparatussuch as a digital camera is photographing, for example, a plant about tobloom at relatively-long predetermined photographing intervals by usingan interval photographing function for sequentially photographing aplurality of images at specified photographing intervals (timeintervals), power supply to the camera is stopped while thephotographing is not being performed in order to suppress batteryconsumption even in this long-time photographing, and power is suppliedto the camera at the time of the photographing to set a photographablestate (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open(Kokai) Publication No. 09-197546).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an imaging apparatus capable of interval photographing,comprising: an imaging section which performs interval photographing ofsequentially photographing a plurality of images at predeterminedphotographing intervals; a wireless communicating section whichwirelessly and communicably connects the imaging apparatus with an otherimaging apparatus; an operation section which specifies an arbitraryphotographing interval for the interval photographing; and a controlsection which sequentially generates photographing instruction signalsat photographing intervals specified by the operation section, whereinthe control section instructs its own imaging section to perform imagephotographing when a photographing instruction signal is generated, andtransmits the photographing instruction signal to the other imagingapparatus via the wireless communicating section so as to controlinterval photographing where photographing timing of the imagingapparatus and photographing timing of the other imaging apparatus aresynchronized with each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an imaging system capable of synchronous interval photographingby a plurality of imaging apparatuses, wherein an imaging apparatusfunctioning as a master (i) clocks photographing intervals in theinterval photographing, (ii) sequentially generates photographinginstruction signals at the clocked photographing intervals, (iii)instructs its own imaging section to perform image photographing andtransmits a photographing instruction signal to an other imagingapparatus functioning as a slave every time a photographing instructionsignal is generated, and wherein the other imaging apparatus functioningas the slave instructs its own imaging section to perform imagephotographing every time a photographing instruction signal is receivedfrom the imaging apparatus functioning as the master.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a photographing method by an imaging apparatus capable ofinterval photographing, comprising: a step of specifying an arbitraryphotographing interval for the interval photographing; a step ofclocking the specified photographing interval; a step of sequentiallygenerating photographing instruction signals at clocked photographingintervals; and a step of instructing its own imaging section to performimage photographing and transmitting a photographing instruction signalto an other imaging apparatus every time a photographing instructionsignal is generated, so as to perform interval photographing wherephotographing timing of the imaging apparatus and photographing timingof the other imaging apparatus are synchronized with each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a photographing method for synchronous interval photographingby a plurality of imaging apparatuses, comprising: a step of controllingan imaging apparatus functioning as a master such that the imagingapparatus functioning as the master (i) clocks photographing intervalsin the interval photographing, (ii) sequentially generates photographinginstruction signals at the clocked photographing intervals, (iii)instructs its own imaging section to perform image photographing andtransmits a photographing instruction signal to an other imagingapparatus functioning as a slave every time a photographing instructionsignal is generated; and a step of controlling the imaging apparatusfunctioning as the slave such that the imaging apparatus functioning asthe slave instructs its own imaging section to perform imagephotographing every time a photographing instruction signal is receivedfrom the imaging apparatus functioning as the master.

The above and further objects and novel features of the presentinvention will more fully appear from the following detailed descriptionwhen the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Itis to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of thelimits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an imaging system in which a plurality ofimaging apparatuses (cameras) have been communicably connected to eachother in order to simultaneously perform interval photographing on thesame photographic subject from different positions;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting basic components of each camera;

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplarily depicting each photographing timing whena time interval for interval photographing is clocked by an RTC 8 and bya timer 3 c for interval photographing;

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplarily depicting photographing timings forfirst to third images in simultaneous interval photographing by aplurality of cameras;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart that is started when simultaneous intervalphotographing by a plurality of cameras is selected from a menu screenwhere various photographing modes have been shown by menu display;

FIG. 6 is the flowchart of an operation following that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is the flowchart of an operation following that of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is the flowchart of an operation following that of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a modification example of theembodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing another modification example of theembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an imaging system in which a plurality ofimaging apparatuses (cameras) have been communicably connected to eachother in order to simultaneously perform interval photographing on thesame photographic subject from different positions.

The imaging apparatuses (cameras), which are compact digital camerashaving a battery cell as a power supply, are capable of performing stillimage photographing and moving image capturing, and have an intervalphotographing function. In this interval photographing function, aplurality of images is sequentially photographed at predeterminedphotographing intervals. Here, an instruction to photograph a firstimage is provided by a photographer's shutter operation, andinstructions to photograph a second image and the following images areautomatically provided by the imaging apparatus at photographingintervals set by a user operation, whereby image photographing isrepeatedly performed by the number of images set in advance by a useroperation. The interval photographing function includes a normalinterval photographing function for performing interval photographing bya single camera and a simultaneous interval photographing function forsimultaneously performing interval photographing on the same subjectfrom different positions by a plurality of cameras.

An example in the drawing shows a state where interval photographing(simultaneous photographing) operations are simultaneously performed onthe same photographic subject from different positions by a plurality of(two) cameras. Specifically, the interval photographing is performed onthe photographic subject (such as a flower about to bloom) by thecameras installed on the left and right sides of the subject. Thecameras perform interval photographing on the same subject (flower) fromdifferent positions at photographing intervals of, for example, tenseconds. Camera A installed on the left side and camera B installed onthe right side have a master-slave relation, in which one camerafunctions as a camera on the master side and the other camera functionsas a camera on the slave side.

The “photographing interval” herein refers to a time interval betweenpreceding image photographing and the following image photographing ininterval photographing, which is repeated for image photographing (atime interval immediately after the end of the preceding imagephotographing and before the start of the following image photographingis referred to as a “photographing standby interval” when it is referreddistinctively from the photographing interval). This “photographinginterval” has an arbitrary value set in advance by a user operation. Inthis master-slave relation, image photographing by the camera on theslave side is performed by following an instruction from the camera onthe master side. Camera A and camera B are communicably connected toeach other via short-distance wireless communication, such as wirelessLAN (Local Area Network) or Bluetooth (registered trademark)communication.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting basic components of the imagingapparatus (camera).

A control section 1, which is operated by power supply from a powersupply section (secondary battery) 2, has a central processing unitwhich controls the entire operation of the camera according to variousprograms in a storage section 3, a memory, and the like. The powersupply section 2 is a main power supply for supplying power to thecamera (such as the control section 1 and the storage section 3). Thestorage section 3 is structured to have, for example, a ROM (Read-OnlyMemory), a flash memory, and a program memory 3 a having stored thereinprograms, various applications, and the like for achieving the presentembodiment by following an operation procedure depicted in FIG. 5 toFIG. 8, which will be described further below.

In addition, the storage section 3 has a work memory 3 b for temporarilystoring various information required for the camera to operate (such asphotographing parameters for interval photographing and image countervalues for counting the number of images in interval photographing), alater-described timer 3 c for interval photographing, and an imagememory 3 d for recording and storing each photographed image. Note thatthe storage section 3 may be structured to include, for example, aremovable portable memory (recording medium) such as an SD (SecureDigital) card or an IC (Integrated Circuit) card, or may be structuredto include, although not shown, a storage area on a predetermined serverapparatus side in a case where the camera is connected to a network by acommunication function.

The control section 1 has connected thereto an operation section 4, adisplay section 5, an imaging section 6, a wireless communicatingsection 7, an RTC (Real Time Clock) 8, and the like as input/outputdevices, and controls their input/output operations. Although notdepicted, the operation section 4 includes a mode change button forswitching between an operation mode (photographing mode) where imagephotographing can be performed and an operation mode for replaying aphotographed image (stored image) (replay mode), and for switching thecurrent mode to an interval photographing mode in the photographingmode, a release button for instructing to start image photographing, anda button for setting photographing parameters such as exposure, shutterspeed, zoom, and focus and a photographing parameter for intervalphotographing (such as a photographing interval). As processingaccording to an input operation signal from this operation section 4,the control section 1 performs mode change processing, photographingcontrol processing, photographing parameter setting processing, and thelike. The display section 5 is a high-definition liquid-crystal displayor an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display serving as a monitorscreen (live view screen) for displaying an image to be photographed(live view image) or a replay screen for replaying a photographed image.

The imaging section 6, which can photograph a subject with highdefinition by a subject image from an optical lens being formed on animage pickup element (such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or CMOS(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor)) omitted in the drawings, isstructured to have an imaging lens, the image pickup element, astroboscope, various sensors, an analog processing section, and adigital processing section. A photoelectrically converted image signal(analog-value signal) is subjected to color separation and gainadjustment for each RGB color component, and then converted todigital-value data. This digitally converted image data is displayed onthe display section 5 by full-color display. The wireless communicatingsection 7 performs short-distance wireless communication with anothercamera via a wireless LAN or the like.

The RTC (Real Time Clock: clock circuit section) 8 is structured toinclude an integral clock that is operated by a clock different from acamera clock or a system clock, and clocks time in seconds. This RTC 8can operate by power supply from a special battery (not depicted) evenwhen power supply to the camera (such as the control section 1 and thestorage section 3) is OFF (main-body power supply OFF state). Also, theRTC 8 is a clock circuit section having a simple structure whose powerconsumption is low and accuracy in a time unit that can be clocked islow as compared with the timer 3 c for interval photographing whichoperates when power supply to the camera is ON. As will be describedbelow, the RTC 8 has a function for clocking a photographing standbytime for interval photographing (standby interval) and executingautomatic activation (wakeup) for the next photographing. The timer 3 cfor interval photographing, which can acquire detailed time informationup to units of 1/100 seconds by operating with a camera clock or asystem clock when power supply to the camera is ON, clocks a timeinterval in interval photographing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplarily depicting each photographing timing whena time interval for interval photographing is clocked by the RTC 8 andby the timer 3 c for interval photographing.

In interval photographing, in order to suppress battery (main body powersupply) consumption, a low power consumption state for suppressing powersupply is set when image photographing is not being performed (aphotographing standby state immediately after preceding imagephotographing is ended before the following image photographing isstarted). Similarly, in a photographing standby state in simultaneousinterval photographing by a plurality of cameras, a low powerconsumption state is set. For simultaneous interval photographing, afirst power saving mode and a second power saving mode having differentlow power consumption states (consumption levels) are provided.

The first power saving mode is a power supply mode in a low powerconsumption state in which power supply to the camera is OFF in aphotographing standby state and the RTC 8 for clocking a time intervalin interval photographing is being operated (power-supply-OFF standbymode). This first power saving mode is optimum for long-durationphotographing because battery consumption can be significantlysuppressed. The second power saving mode is a power supply mode in a lowpower consumption state in which the camera is in a non-operating statewith power supply to the camera being kept ON and the timer 3 c forclocking a time interval for interval photographing is being operated(power-supply-ON sleep mode). Although battery consumption in the secondpower saving mode is larger than that in the first power saving mode(power-supply-OFF standby mode), an operation of activating the camerais not required, and therefore an operation such as next imagephotographing can be quickly performed. Thus, the second power savingmode is effective for accurate interval photographing.

An example in the drawing shows interval photographing in the firstpower saving mode (power-supply-OFF standby mode) and the second powersaving mode (power-supply-ON sleep mode).

In this example, when a photographing interval for intervalphotographing is set at “three seconds” and a photographer performs arelease operation at the timing of “1.4 seconds” to photograph a firstimage, image photographing of a second image is performed at the timingof “4.4 seconds” and image photographing of a third image is performedat the timing of “7.4 seconds”, in the second power saving mode. Bycontrast, in the first power saving mode, the RTC 8 can only performphotographing for each one second with accuracy in units of seconds, andtherefore image photographing of a second image is performed at thetiming of “four seconds” and image photographing of a third image isperformed at the timing of “seven seconds”, which are different from thephotographing timings in the second power saving mode.

In order to solve this problem, in the present embodiment, whensimultaneous interval photographing by a plurality of (for example, two)cameras is performed, one of these two cameras is switched to the firstpower saving mode, and the other is switched to the second power savingmode. In this case, the camera switched to the second power saving modefunctions as a master side, and the camera switched to the first powersaving mode functions as a slave side, whereby a deviation inphotographing timing between the cameras is solved. That is, the cameraon the master side controls simultaneous photographing (intervalphotographing) with the camera on the slave side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplarily depicting photographing timings for thefirst to third images in simultaneous interval photographing by aplurality of cameras.

When a release operation is performed on one camera for simultaneousinterval photographing by a plurality of cameras, this camera (camerasubjected to the release operation) instructs its own imaging section 6to perform image photographing, and transmits a photographinginstruction signal to the other camera. As a result, simultaneousphotographing (photographing of a first image) where the cameras (thecamera subjected to the release operation and the other camera) aresynchronized with each other is performed. In the example in FIG. 4,from among the cameras shown in FIG. 1 which are camera A installed onthe left side and camera B installed on the right side, camera A hasbeen subjected to a release operation. When the first image isphotographed as described above, initial setting is performed such thatcamera A enters the first power saving mode (power-supply-OFF standbymode) and camera B enters the second power saving mode (power-supply-ONsleep mode). Note that gray-colored areas in FIG. 4 represent timeperiods set in the first power saving mode and blank areas representtime periods set in the second power saving mode.

When the first image is photographed, photographing of a second imageand the following images is automatically performed for eachphotographing parameter (photographing interval) arbitrarily set inadvance. In this case, in the camera set in the second power saving mode(the camera on the master side), the interval photographing timer 3 cstarts a clocking operation. Then, when the timer 3 c reaches time upand the clocking operation for the photographing interval is completed,the camera on the master side instructs its own imaging section 6 toperform image photographing at this timing, and transmits aphotographing instruction to the other camera set in the first powersaving mode (the camera on the slave side) so as to instruct it toperform interval photographing.

In the master-slave relation in this case, camera B serves as a masterand camera A serves as a slave. Therefore, simultaneous photographing(photographing the second image) is performed under the initiative ofcamera B. When the second image is photographed as described above, themode of camera A is switched to the second power saving mode and cameraA functions as a camera on the master side. In addition, the mode ofcamera B is switched to the first power saving mode and camera Bfunctions as a camera on the slave side. Accordingly, the intervalphotographing timer 3 c of camera A starts a clocking operation. Then,when the timer 3 c reaches time up and the clocking operation for thephotographing interval is completed, camera A instructs its own imagingsection 6 to perform image photographing at this timing, and transmits aphotographing instruction signal to camera B. As a result, under theinitiative of camera A, simultaneous photographing (photographing thethird image) is performed. Hereafter, the cameras A and B arealternately switched between the first power saving mode and the secondpower saving mode for each photographing, and the master-slave relationis also alternately switched for each photographing, wherebysimultaneous interval photographing is sequentially performed by theplurality of cameras.

Next, the operation concept of the imaging apparatuses (cameras) in thepresent embodiment is described with reference to flowcharts depicted inFIG. 5 to FIG. 8. Here, each function described in the flowcharts isstored in a readable program code format, and operations based on theseprogram codes are sequentially performed. Also, operations based on theabove-described program codes transmitted over a transmission mediumsuch as a network can also be sequentially performed. That is, theunique operations of the present embodiment can be performed usingprograms and data supplied from an outside source over a transmissionmedium, in addition to a recording medium. Note that these flowcharts inFIG. 5 to FIG. 8 outline operations of the characteristic portion of thepresent embodiment from among all of the operations of the cameras.After exiting the flow in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, the procedure returns to themain flow (not shown) of the overall operation.

The flowchart depicted in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 illustrates an operation ofeach camera that is started when a menu item “simultaneous intervalphotographing” by a plurality of cameras is selected and specified froma menu screen where various photographing modes are being displayed bymenu display.

When the menu item “simultaneous interval photographing” is selected andspecified, the control section 1 of each of the cameras (for example,camera A and camera B) first performs processing for initializing thetimer 3 c for interval photographing, an image counter, and the like(Step S1 of FIG. 5), and then judges whether an operation of settingphotographing parameters for interval photographing has been performed(Step S2). This parameter setting operation is not required to beperformed on each of the plurality of cameras as long as it is performedon one of the cameras.

Here, when judged that a parameter setting operation of inputting aphotographing interval (for example, ten seconds) and the number ofimages to be photographed (for example, 720 images) as photographingparameters for interval photographing has been performed by theoperation section 4 of one of the cameras (YES at Step S2), the controlsection 1 performs processing of setting these input parameters (thephotographing interval and the number of images to be photographed) inthe work memory 3 b of the camera subjected to the parameter settingoperation (Step S3). Then, the control section 1 performs processing fortransmitting these set photographing parameters (the photographinginterval and the number of images to be photographed) from the wirelesscommunicating section 7 to the other camera (Step S4).

For example, if the photographing parameter setting operation has beenperformed on camera A, the control section 1 of camera A causes thephotographing parameters to be wirelessly transmitted to camera B.Conversely, if the photographing parameter setting operation has beenperformed on camera B, the control section 1 of camera B causes thephotographing parameters to be wirelessly transmitted to camera A. Then,the control section 1 proceeds to Step S7. At Step S2, when judged thata photographing parameter setting operation has not been performed (NOat Step S2), the control section 1 determines that a setting operationhas been performed using the other camera, and proceeds to the next StepS5 to judge whether photographing parameters (the photographing intervaland the number of images to be photographed) have been received from theother camera. As the photographing parameters, not only thephotographing interval and the number of images to be photographed butalso a total time from the start to the end of interval photographing,the ending time or the ending date and time of interval photographing,and the like may be set.

Here, when judged that photographing parameters have not been receivedfrom the other camera (NO at Step S5), the control section 1 proceeds tonext Step S7. Conversely, when judged that photographing parameters havebeen received from the other camera (YES at Step S5), the controlsection 1 performs processing for setting the photographing parametersin its work memory 3 b (Step S6). Then, the control section 1 proceedsto Step S7. At this Step S7, the control section 1 judges whether thephotographing parameters have been set in its work memory 3 b. Whenjudged that the photographing parameters have not been set (NO at StepS7), the control section 1 returns to Step S2 described above.Conversely, when judged that the photographing parameters have been set(YES at Step S7), the control section 1 proceeds to the flow of FIG. 6.

In the flow of FIG. 6, the control section 1 first judges whether arelease half-press operation (half shutter operation: one-step pressoperation) has been performed, as a release operation for instructing toperform initial image photographing in interval photographing (atwo-step push shutter operation) (Step S8). When judged that a releasehalf-press operation has not been performed (NO at Step S8), the controlsection 1 proceeds to Step S16 of FIG. 7, and judges whether aphotographing preparation instruction signal for instructing to preparefor image photographing (a signal instructing to perform photographingpreparation processing such as automatic focus adjustment or automaticexposure adjustment) has been received from the other camera. Here, whena release half-press operation has been performed on camera A, thecontrol section 1 of camera B judges whether a photographing preparationsignal has been received from camera A. Conversely, when a releasehalf-press operation has been performed on camera B, the control section1 of camera A judges whether a photographing preparation signal has beenreceived from camera B.

The following operations are described assuming that a releasehalf-press operation has been performed on camera A.

When judged that a release half-press operation has been performed oncamera A (YES at Step S8), the control section 1 of camera A startsautomatic focus adjustment (AF) and automatic exposure adjustment (AE)(Step S9). Then, the control section 1 performs processing fortransmitting a photographing preparation instruction signal from thewireless communicating section 7 to the other camera B (Step S10), andthen enters and maintains a standby state until a release full-pressoperation (full shutter operation) is performed (Step S11). Then, when arelease full-press operation (full shutter operation) is performed oncamera A (YES at Step S11), the control section 1 performs photographingprocessing, performs processing such as image compression processing onan image obtained from the imaging section 6, and then performsprocessing for recording and storing the image in the image memory 3 d(Step S12).

When the photographing of the first image by camera A is completedthereby, the control section 1 performs processing for incrementing thevalue of the image counter (omitted in the drawing) for counting thenumber of images photographed in interval photographing by “1” to updatethe counter value (Step S13). The image counter herein has an initialvalue of “0” before the photographing of the first image, and thereforethe counter value is updated to “1” by the photographing of the firstimage. Next, the control section 1 of camera A transmits a photographinginstruction signal instructing to perform interval photographing tocamera B (Step S14). Then, the control section 1 performs initialsetting such that camera A enters the first power saving mode(power-supply-OFF standby mode), and starts a clocking operation for aphotographing standby time that continues until automatic activation(wakeup) is performed for the next image photographing (standbyinterval: a time period set corresponding to the photographing intervaland shorter by a predetermined amount of time than the photographinginterval that has been set in consideration of time required to preparefor image photographing after activation) by using the RTC 8 (Step S15).Then, the control section 1 proceeds to Step S30 of FIG. 8, and entersand maintains a standby state until it is automatically activated(wakeup) after the clocking operation for the photographing standby time(the time period corresponding to the photographing interval forinterval photographing) by the RTC 8 is completed.

On the camera B side, when the photographing preparation instructionsignal is received from camera A (YES at Step S16), the control section1 of camera B starts automatic focus adjustment (AF) and automaticexposure adjustment (AE) (Step S17). Then, the control section 1 entersand maintains a standby state until the photographing instruction signalinstructing to perform interval photographing is received from camera A(Step S18). When the photographing instruction signal is received fromcamera A (YES at Step S18), the control section 1 performs photographingprocessing in response to this photographing instruction signal,performs processing such as image compression processing on an imageobtained from the imaging section 6, and then performs processing forrecording and storing the image in the image memory 3 d (Step S19).

When the photographing of the first image by camera B is completedthereby, the control section 1 performs processing for incrementing thevalue of the image counter (an initial value of “0”) by “1” to updatethe counter value (Step S20). Then, the control section 1 compares thevalue of the image counter and the number of images to be photographedset as a photographing parameter to judge whether the value of the imagecounter is equal to or larger than the set number of images (Step S21).Here, the first image has been photographed, and the value of the imagecounter has not reached the number of images to be photographed (NO atStep S21). Therefore, the control section 1 proceeds to next Step S22,switches the mode of its camera (camera B) to the second power savingmode (power-supply-ON sleep mode), and causes the timer 3 c for intervalphotographing to start a clocking operation (Step S23). Then, thecontrol section 1 enters and maintains a standby state until the timer 3c ends the clocking operation for the photographing interval (Step S24).

When the photographing of the first image by each of the cameras (cameraA and camera B) is completed as described above, the control section 1proceeds to photographing of a second image after the photographinginterval has elapsed. Here, at the end of the photographing of the firstimage, camera A is in the standby state for automatic activation(wakeup) by the RTC 8 (the standby state where the time periodcorresponding to the photographing interval is being clocked) (Step S30of FIG. 8). In addition, camera B is in the standby state where thephotographing interval is being clocked by the timer 3 c (Step S24 ofFIG. 7). In this standby state, the RTC 8 completes the clockingoperation for the photographing standby time (standby interval) forautomatic activation (wakeup) at timing earlier than the end of theclocking operation by the timer 3 c, so that a photographing instructionsignal transmitted from the other camera can be received. Note that,since the RTC 8 is clocking in units of seconds, the standby timeaccording thereto has been set.

When the RTC 8 of camera A completes the clocking operation for thephotographing standby interval (shorter than three seconds) before thetimer 3 c of camera B completes the clocking operation for thephotographing interval (three seconds) (YES at Step S30 of FIG. 8), thecontrol section 1 of camera A turns on power supply to the camera andactivates (wakeup) the imaging section 6 so that camera A enters aphotographing preparation state (Step S31). Then, the control section 1enters and maintains a standby state until a photographing instructionsignal is received from camera B (Step S32). Then, when the timer 3 c ofcamera B ends the clocking operation for the photographing interval (YESat Step S24 of FIG. 7), the control section 1 proceeds to the flow ofFIG. 8. Then, the control section 1 of camera B performs photographingprocessing, performs processing such as image compression processing onan image obtained from the imaging section 6, and then performsprocessing for recording and storing the image in the image memory 3 d(Step S25).

When the photographing of the second image by camera B is completedthereby, the control section 1 performs processing for incrementing thevalue of the image counter by “1” to update the counter value to “2”(Step S26), and then judges whether the image counter value is equal toor larger than the set number of images (Step S27). Here, the secondimage has been photographed by camera B. If the counter value is smallerthan the set number of images (NO at Step S27), the control sectionproceeds to Step S28, and transmits a photographing 1 instruction signalinstructing to perform interval photographing to camera A from thewireless communicating section 7. Then, the control section 1 switchesthe current mode to the first power saving mode (power-supply-OFFstandby mode) and starts a clocking operation for the photographingstandby time by the RTC 8 (Step S29). Then, the control section 1 entersand maintains a standby state until the clocking operation for thephotographing standby time by the RTC 8 is completed (Step S30).

On the other hand, when the photographing instruction signal is receivedfrom camera B (YES at Step S18 of FIG. 7), the control section 1 ofcamera A performs photographing processing, performs processing such asimage compression processing on an image obtained from the imagingsection 6, and then performs processing for recording and storing theimage in the image memory 3 d (Step S19). When the photographing of thesecond image by camera A is completed thereby, the control section 1increments the value of the image counter by “1” to update the countervalue to “2” (Step S20). Here, when the counter value is smaller thanthe set number of images (NO at Step S21), the control section 1proceeds to Step S22, switches the mode of camera A to the second powersaving mode (power-supply-ON sleep mode), and starts a clockingoperation by the timer 3 c for interval photographing (Step S23). Then,the control section 1 enters and maintains a standby state until thetimer 3 c completes the clocking operation for the photographinginterval (Step S24).

When the photographing of the second image by each of the cameras(camera A and camera B) is completed, the control section 1 proceeds tophotographing of a third image after the photographing interval haselapsed. That is, on the camera B side, the control section 1 isautomatically activated (wakeup) from the standby state by the RTC 8(Step S30 of FIG. 8) so as to prepare for photographing (Step S31), andthen enters a photographing instruction standby state at Step S32. Onthe camera A side, after exiting from a photographing instructionstandby state (Step S24 of FIG. 7), the control section 1 performsprocessing for photographing a third image (Step S5 of FIG. 8) andprocessing for switching the current mode to the first power saving mode(power-supply-OFF standby mode) (Step S29), and then enters andmaintains a standby state until it is automatically activated (wakeup)based on a result of a clocking operation by the RTC 8 (Step S30 of FIG.8). Then, on the camera B side, after exiting from the photographinginstruction standby state (Step S18 of FIG. 7), the control section 1performs processing for photographing a third image (Step S19) andprocessing for switching the current mode to the second power savingmode (power-supply-ON sleep mode) (Step S22), and enters a photographinginstruction standby state (Step S24). By camera A and camera Balternately performing these operations every time an image isphotographed, interval photographing is sequentially performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when a photographinginterval for interval photographing is specified in intervalphotographing by a plurality of imaging apparatuses (camera A and cameraB), the control section 1 of one of the imaging apparatuses (forexample, camera A) generates a photographing instruction signal at thetiming of the photographing interval so as to instruct its imagingsection 6 to perform image photographing, transmits a photographinginstruction signal from the wireless communicating section 7 to theother imaging apparatus (for example, camera B), and thereby controlssimultaneous photographing (interval photographing) where camera A andcamera B are synchronized with each other. As a result of thisconfiguration, accurate interval photographing can be achieved withoutplacing a burden on the user when interval photographing is performed onthe same subject from different positions by a plurality of cameras.

Also, each camera includes the timer 3 c for interval photographing,which clocks an arbitrary photographing interval specified by a useroperation. When the timer 3 c of one of these cameras is halting aclocking operation, the other camera generates a photographinginstruction signal at the timing of the photographing interval clockedby its timer 3 c, whereby image photographing is performed by thiscamera and the other camera. As a result of this configuration,simultaneous interval photographing can be performed under theinitiative of any one of plural cameras.

Moreover, in a camera in the first power saving mode, a photographingstandby time is clocked by the RTC 8. In addition, in a camera in thesecond power saving mode (power-supply-ON sleep mode), a photographinginterval is clocked by the timer 3 c for interval photographing, and aphotographing instruction signal is generated at the timing of thisphotographing interval clocked by the timer 3 c. As a result of thisconfiguration, simultaneous interval photographing can be performedbased on a result of a clocking operation by the timer 3 c having highaccuracy.

Furthermore, the first power saving mode is a mode in a low powerconsumption state where power supply to the apparatus body excluding theRTC 8 is OFF, and the second power saving mode is a mode in a low powerconsumption state where preparations for next image photographing aremade with power supply to the apparatus body including the controlsection being kept ON. As a result of this configuration, the entirepower consumption can be reduced by one of a plurality of cameras beingset in the first power saving mode and the other being set in the secondpower saving mode, and accurate interval photographing can be achieved.

Still further, this camera functions as a camera on the master side whenit is in the second power saving mode, and functions as a camera as onthe slave side when it is in the first power saving mode. As a result ofthis configuration, the master-slave relation can be switched accordingto switching between the power saving modes.

Yet still further, the first power saving mode is set immediately aftera release operation for instructing to perform initial imagephotographing in interval photographing is performed, and the secondpower saving mode is switched to the first power saving mode immediatelyafter an instruction for simultaneous photographing (intervalphotographing) is provided. As a result of this configuration, switchingto the first power saving mode where power consumption is low can bemade without waste, and the entire power consumption can be reduced.

Yet still further, when a photographing instruction signal is receivedfrom a camera on the master side, a camera on the slave side provides aphotographing instruction to its imaging section 6, and switches itsmode from the first power saving mode to the second power saving modeimmediately after providing the photographing instruction. As a resultof this configuration, accurate simultaneous photographing (intervalphotographing) can be performed, and the entire power consumption can bereduced.

Yet still further, when power supply to a camera on the slave side isOFF by the camera being switched to the first power saving mode, if aclocking operation for a photographing standby time by the RTC 8 iscompleted, the power supply to the camera is turned ON for automaticactivation (wakeup) so that the camera enters a photographing enablestate. As a result of this configuration, when a photographinginstruction signal is received from one camera, the other camera cangive an instruction for image photographing to its imaging section 6immediately.

Yet still further, after being set in one camera, photographingparameters including an arbitrary photographing interval specified by auser operation are transmitted to the other camera via wirelesscommunication and set therein. As a result of this configuration, aphotographing parameter setting operation is only required to beperformed on one of a plurality of cameras, which reduces a burden onthe user.

Yet still further, in an imaging system where a plurality of camerascapable of interval photographing for sequentially photographing aplurality of images at predetermined photographing intervals arecommunicably connected to each other in a master-slave relation, onecamera on the master side gives a photographing instruction to itsimaging section 6 by generating a photographing instruction signal atthe timing of a photographing interval for interval photographing, andtransmits the photographing instruction signal to the other camera so asto control simultaneous photographing (interval photographing) where thecamera on the master side and the other camera are synchronized witheach other. Then, the camera on the slave side gives a photographinginstruction to its imaging section 6 in synchronization with thereception of the photographing instruction signal from the camera on themaster side. As a result of this configuration, when intervalphotographing is to be performed on the same subject from differentpositions by using a plurality of cameras, accurate intervalphotographing can be achieved without placing a burden on the user.

Yet still further, a camera on the master side and a camera on the slaveside are sequentially switched for each photographing. As a result ofthis configuration, even in interval photographing where the total powerconsumption amount is high, the power consumption amount of each cameracan be equalized, and therefore the photographing can be performed for along period of time in the system as a whole.

In the above-described embodiment, the master-slave relation isalternately changed between two cameras (camera A and camera B) for eachimage photographing. However, a configuration may be adopted in whichone camera is fixed to function on the master side and the other camerais fixed to function on the slave side. Also, a configuration may beadopted in which the master-slave relation is alternately changed everytime a plurality of images are photographed, or a configuration may beadopted in which the master-slave relation is changed only onceaccording to the remaining amount of the battery.

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplarily depicting the case where themaster-slave relation is fixed. That is, camera B of the two cameras(camera A and camera B) is fixed to function on the master side and theother camera A is fixed to function on the slave side.

Here, camera A generates a photographing instruction signal according toa release operation, and thereby instructs its imaging section 6 toperform image photographing. Subsequently, camera A transmits thephotographing instruction signal from the wireless communicating section7 to camera B, and thereby controls simultaneous photographing (intervalphotographing) for a first image. Then, camera A is fixed in the firstpower saving mode (power-supply-OFF standby mode), and camera B is fixedin the second power saving mode (power-supply-ON sleep mode). In thisstate, every time the timing of a photographing interval is detected,camera B generates a photographing instruction signal to instruct itsimaging section 6 to perform photographing, and transmits thephotographing instruction signal from the wireless communicating section7 to camera A, whereby simultaneous photographing (intervalphotographing) for a second image and the following images iscontrolled. Note that, conversely, camera A may be fixed to function onthe master side and camera B may be fixed to function on the slave side.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the master and the slave of themaster-slave relation is alternately switched between the two cameras(camera A and camera B). However, a configuration may be adopted inwhich the master-slave relation is sequentially changed for eachphotographing among three or more cameras.

FIG. 10 is a diagram exemplarily depicting the case where themaster-slave relation is sequentially changed for each photographingamong three cameras (camera A, camera B, and camera C). That is, amongthree cameras (camera A, camera B, and camera C), one camera is switchedto function on the master side, and each of the other cameras isswitched to function on the slave side.

Here, camera A generates a photographing instruction signal according toa release operation, and thereby instructs its imaging section 6 toperform image photographing. Subsequently, camera A transmits thephotographing instruction signal to camera B from the wirelesscommunicating section 7, and thereby controls simultaneous photographing(interval photographing) for a first image. Then, camera A and camera Care set in the first power saving mode (power-supply-OFF standby mode),and camera B is set in the second power saving mode (power-supply-ONsleep mode). In this state, when the timing of a photographing intervalis detected, camera B generates a photographing instruction signal, andthereby instructs its imaging section 6 to perform image photographing.Subsequently, camera B transmits the photographing instruction signalfrom the wireless communicating section 7 to camera A and camera C, andthereby controls simultaneous photographing (interval photographing) fora second image.

Then, camera A and camera B are set in the first power saving mode(power-supply-OFF standby mode), and camera C is set in the second powersaving mode (power-supply-ON sleep mode). In this state, when the timingof a photographing interval is detected, camera C generates aphotographing instruction signal, and thereby instructs its imagingsection 6 to perform image photographing. Subsequently, camera Ctransmits the photographing instruction signal from the wirelesscommunicating section 7 to camera A and camera B, and thereby controlssimultaneous photographing (interval photographing) for a third image.Note that the number of the cameras may be four or more.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention hasbeen exemplarily applied in a compact digital camera as an imagingapparatus. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, andmay be applied in a twin-lens reflex digital camera, acamera-function-equipped personal computer, a camera-function-equippedPDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a camera-function-equipped tabletterminal device, a camera-function-equipped portable telephone such assmartphone, a camera-function-equipped electronic game machine, acamera-function-equipped music player, or the like.

Furthermore, the “apparatus” or the “sections” described in theabove-described embodiment are not required to be in a single housingand may be separated into a plurality of housings by function. Inaddition, the steps in the above-described flowcharts are not requiredto be processed in time-series, and may be processed in parallel, orindividually and independently.

Still further, in the above-described embodiment, the control section 1is operated based on the programs stored in the storage section 3,whereby various types of functions (processing or sections) required toachieve the various types of effects described above are partially orentirely actualized (performed or configured). However, this is merelyan example and other various methods can be used to actualize thesefunctions.

For example, these various functions may be partially or entirelyactualized by an electronic circuit, such as an IC (Input Circuit) or aLSI (Large-Scale Integration). Note that specific examples of theconfiguration of this electronic circuit are not described hereinbecause a person ordinarily skilled in the art of the invention caneasily actualize this configuration based on the flowcharts and thefunctional block diagrams described in the specification (For example,judgment processing accompanied by branch processing in the flowchartscan be configured by input date being compared by a comparator and aselector being switched by the comparison result).

Also, the plural functions (processing or sections) required to achievethe various effects can be freely divided. The following are examplesthereof.

(Configuration 1)

An imaging apparatus capable of interval photographing, including:

an imaging section which performs interval photographing of sequentiallyphotographing a plurality of images at predetermined photographingintervals;

a wireless communicating section which wirelessly and communicablyconnects the imaging apparatus with an other imaging apparatus;

an operation section which specifies an arbitrary photographing intervalfor the interval photographing; and

a control section which sequentially generates photographing instructionsignals at photographing intervals specified by the operation section,

in which the control section instructs its own imaging section toperform image photographing when a photographing instruction signal isgenerated, and transmits the photographing instruction signal to theother imaging apparatus via the wireless communicating section so as tocontrol interval photographing where photographing timing of the imagingapparatus and photographing timing of the other imaging apparatus aresynchronized with each other.

(Configuration 2)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 1, in which the controlsection causes the other imaging apparatus to clock the photographinginterval when a clocking operation for the photographing interval by theimaging apparatus is being halted, and specifies the photographingtiming of the imaging apparatus according to a photographing instructionsignal transmitted from the other imaging apparatus based on thephotographing interval clocked by the other imaging apparatus.

(Configuration 3)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 2, in which the controlsection clocks the photographing interval specified by the operationsection, and sequentially generates photographing instruction signals atphotographing intervals clocked by the control section, when a clockingoperation for the photographing interval by the other imaging apparatusis being halted.

(Configuration 4)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 3, in which the controlsection in the interval photographing switches a current mode to a firstpower saving mode where power consumption is lower than powerconsumption in a normal photographing mode, and halts a clockingoperation for the photographing interval by the imaging apparatus in thefirst power saving mode.

(Configuration 5)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 4, further including:

a clock circuit section which has an integral clock whose powerconsumption is low although accuracy in a time unit capable of beingclocked is lower than accuracy of a clocking operation by the controlsection,

in which the first power saving mode is a state where power supply topredetermined circuits including at least a circuit for performing theclocking operation by the control section and a circuit for performing acommunication operation by the wireless communicating section is OFF andpower supply to the clock circuit section is ON, and

in which the clock circuit section has a wakeup function by which, inthe first power saving mode, a standby time shorter by a predeterminedamount of time than the photographing interval specified by theoperation section is clocked, and the power supply to the predeterminedcircuits is turned ON after the standby time is clocked, so that themeasuring operation by the control section and the clocking operation bythe wireless communicating section are enabled.

(Configuration 6)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 4, in which the controlsection in a photographing standby state immediately after end ofpreceding image photographing and before start of following imagephotographing in the interval photographing switches between the firstpower saving mode and a second power saving mode where power consumptionis larger than the power consumption of the first power saving mode,

in which the control section in the second power saving mode clocks thephotographing interval specified by the operation section, and

in which the clock circuit section in the first power saving mode clocksa standby interval corresponding to the photographing interval specifiedby the operation section.

(Configuration 7)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 6, in which the firstpower saving mode is a mode in a low power consumption state where powersupply to an apparatus body excluding the clock circuit section is OFF,and

in which the second power saving mode is a mode in a low powerconsumption state where preparation for the following imagephotographing is made with power supply to the apparatus body includingthe control section being kept ON.

(Configuration 8)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 6, in which the imagingapparatus functions as an imaging apparatus on a master side in thesecond power saving mode and functions as an imaging apparatus on aslave side in the first power saving mode.

(Configuration 9)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 6, in which the controlsection sets the first power saving mode immediately after a releaseoperation for instructing to perform initial image photographing in theinterval photographing is performed, and switches from the second powersaving mode to the first power saving mode immediately after thephotographing instruction signal is transmitted to the other imagingapparatus.

(Configuration 10)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 8, in which the controlsection functioning on the slave side instructs its own imaging sectionto perform image photographing when the photographing instruction signalis received from the other imaging apparatus on the master side, and

in which the control section switches from the first power saving modeto the second power saving mode immediately after the photographinginstruction.

(Configuration 11)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 10, in which thecontrol section functioning on the slave side switches between the firstpower saving mode and the second power saving mode having differentpower consumption states, in the photographing standby state immediatelyafter the end of the preceding photographing and before the start of thefollowing image photographing in the interval photographing,

in which the control section, when a clocking operation for the standbyinterval by the clock circuit section is completed with the power supplyto the apparatus body being turned OFF by switching to the first powersaving mode, turns on the power supply to the apparatus body so as toreturn to a photographable state,

in which the control section instructs its own imaging section toperform image photographing when the photographing instruction signal isreceived from the other imaging apparatus on the master side with thepower supply to the apparatus body being turned ON by the return, and

in which the clock circuit section clocks the standby intervalcorresponding to the photographing interval, in the first power savingmode where the power consumption is lower than the power consumption ofthe second power saving mode.

(Configuration 12)

The imaging apparatus described in configuration 1, in which the controlsection sets, in the imaging apparatus, a photographing parameterincluding the photographing interval specified by the operation section,and transmits the photographing parameter to the other imaging apparatusfrom the wireless communicating section so as to instruct the otherimaging apparatus to set the photographing parameter.

(Configuration 13)

An imaging system capable of synchronous interval photographing by aplurality of imaging apparatuses, in which an imaging apparatusfunctioning as a master (i) clocks photographing intervals in theinterval photographing, (ii) sequentially generates photographinginstruction signals at the clocked photographing intervals, (iii)instructs its own imaging section to perform image photographing andtransmits a photographing instruction signal to an other imagingapparatus functioning as a slave every time a photographing instructionsignal is generated, and

in which the other imaging apparatus functioning as the slave instructsits own imaging section to perform image photographing every time aphotographing instruction signal is received from the imaging apparatusfunctioning as the master.

(Configuration 14)

The imaging system described in configuration 13, in which the imagingapparatus functioning as the master and the imaging apparatusfunctioning as the slave among the plurality of imaging apparatuses areswitched during the interval photographing.

(Configuration 15)

The imaging system described in configuration 14, in which the imagingapparatus functioning as the master and the imaging apparatusfunctioning as the slave among the plurality of imaging apparatuses arealternately switched during the interval photographing.

(Configuration 16)

A photographing method by an imaging apparatus capable of intervalphotographing, including:

a step of specifying an arbitrary photographing interval for theinterval photographing;

a step of clocking the specified photographing interval;

a step of sequentially generating photographing instruction signals atclocked photographing intervals; and

a step of instructing its own imaging section to perform imagephotographing and transmitting a photographing instruction signal to another imaging apparatus every time a photographing instruction signal isgenerated, so as to perform interval photographing where photographingtiming of the imaging apparatus and photographing timing of the otherimaging apparatus are synchronized with each other.

(Configuration 17)

A photographing method for synchronous interval photographing by aplurality of imaging apparatuses, including:

a step of controlling an imaging apparatus functioning as a master suchthat the imaging apparatus functioning as the master (i) clocksphotographing intervals in the interval photographing, (ii) sequentiallygenerates photographing instruction signals at the clocked photographingintervals, (iii) instructs its own imaging section to perform imagephotographing and transmits a photographing instruction signal to another imaging apparatus functioning as a slave every time aphotographing instruction signal is generated; and

a step of controlling the imaging apparatus functioning as the slavesuch that the imaging apparatus functioning as the slave instructs itsown imaging section to perform image photographing every time aphotographing instruction signal is received from the imaging apparatusfunctioning as the master.

While the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiments, it is intended that the invention be not limitedby any of the details of the description therein but includes all theembodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An imaging apparatus capable of intervalphotographing, the imaging apparatus comprising: a wirelesscommunication unit configured for forming a wireless connection withanother apparatus, the wireless communication unit receivingphotographing instruction signals from the other apparatus atpredetermined photographing intervals; an imaging section including anoptical lens which performs interval photographing by sequentiallyphotographing a plurality of images based on the photographinginstruction signals received by the communication unit; and a processorconfigured to be operable during the interval photographing to switch toa first power saving mode where power consumption is lower than powerconsumption in a normal photographing mode.
 2. An imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the other apparatus comprises a secondimaging section including an optical lens which performs the intervalphotographing, wherein the other apparatus instructs the second imagingsection to perform the interval photographing while the other apparatustransmits the photographing instruction signals to the imagingapparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus performs the intervalphotographing by photographic timing of the imaging apparatus to besynchronized with the other apparatus.
 3. An imaging apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the other apparatus transmits photographinginstruction signals to the imaging apparatus and a different imagingapparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus performs the intervalphotographing by photographic timing of the imaging apparatus to besynchronized with the different imaging apparatus.
 4. An imagingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation sectionincluding a button which specifies an arbitrary photographing intervalfor the interval photographing; and wherein the wireless connectionformed by the wireless communication unit comprises a wireless LAN whichwirelessly and communicably connects the imaging apparatus with theother apparatus, wherein the processor is configured to sequentiallygenerate the photographing instruction signals at photographingintervals specified by the operation section, wherein the processor isconfigured to instruct the imaging section of the imaging apparatus toperform image photographing when a photographing instruction signal isgenerated, and transmit the photographing instruction signal to theother apparatus via the wireless communication unit so as to control theinterval photographing where photographing timing of the imagingapparatus and photographing timing of the other apparatus aresynchronized with each other, wherein the processor is configured tocause the other apparatus to clock the photographing interval when aclocking operation for the photographing interval by the imagingapparatus is being halted, and specify the photographing timing of theimaging apparatus according to a photographing instruction signaltransmitted from the other apparatus based on the photographing intervalclocked by the other apparatus, wherein the processor is configured toclock the photographing interval specified by the operation section, andsequentially generate the photographing instruction signals atphotographing intervals clocked by the processor, when a clockingoperation for the photographing interval by the other apparatus is beinghalted, and wherein the processor during the interval photographing isconfigured to switch a current mode to the first power saving mode wherepower consumption is lower than power consumption in the normalphotographing mode, and halts a clocking operation for the photographinginterval by the imaging apparatus in the first power saving mode.
 5. Theimaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a clockcircuit section which has an integral clock whose power consumption islow although accuracy in a time unit capable of being clocked is lowerthan accuracy of a clocking operation by the processor, wherein thefirst power saving mode is a state where power supply to predeterminedcircuits including at least a circuit for performing the clockingoperation by the processor and a circuit for performing a communicationoperation by the wireless communication unit is OFF and power supply tothe clock circuit section is ON, and wherein the clock circuit sectionhas a wakeup function by which, in the first power saving mode, astandby time shorter by a predetermined amount of time than thephotographing interval specified by the operation section is clocked,and the power supply to the predetermined circuits is turned ON afterthe standby time is clocked, so that a measuring operation by theprocessor and the clocking operation by the processor are enabled. 6.The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processor isconfigured to, in a photographing standby state immediately after an endof a preceding image photographing operation and before start of afollowing image photographing operation during the intervalphotographing, switch between the first power saving mode and a secondpower saving mode where power consumption is larger than the powerconsumption of the first power saving mode, wherein the processor in thesecond power saving mode clocks the photographing interval specified bythe operation section, and wherein the clock circuit section in thefirst power saving mode clocks a standby interval corresponding to thephotographing interval specified by the operation section.
 7. Theimaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first power savingmode comprises a low power consumption state where power supply to anapparatus body excluding the clock circuit section is OFF, and whereinthe second power saving mode comprises a low power consumption statewhere preparation for the following image photographing is made withpower supply to the apparatus body including the processor being keptON.
 8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the imagingapparatus functions as an imaging apparatus on a master side in thesecond power saving mode and functions as an imaging apparatus on aslave side in the first power saving mode.
 9. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to, when theimaging apparatus is functioning on the slave side, instruct the imagingsection of the imaging apparatus to perform image photographing when thephotographing instruction signal is received from the other apparatus onthe master side, and wherein the processor is configured to switch fromthe first power saving mode to the second power saving mode immediatelyafter the photographing instruction is received.
 10. The imagingapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to,when imaging apparatus is functioning on the slave side, switch betweenthe first power saving mode and the second power saving mode havingdifferent power consumption states, in the photographing standby stateimmediately after the end of the preceding photographing operation andbefore the start of the following image photographing operation duringthe interval photographing, wherein the processor is configured to, whena clocking operation for the standby interval by the clock circuitsection is completed with the power supply to the apparatus body beingturned OFF by switching to the first power saving mode, turn on thepower supply to the apparatus body so as to return to a photographyenabled state, wherein the processor is configured to instruct theimaging section of the imaging apparatus to perform image photographingwhen the photographing instruction signal is received from the otherapparatus on the master side with the power supply to the apparatus bodybeing turned ON by the return, and wherein the clock circuit sectionclocks the standby interval corresponding to the photographing interval,in the first power saving mode where the power consumption is lower thanthe power consumption of the second power saving mode.
 11. The imagingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured toset the imaging apparatus to the first power saving mode immediatelyafter a release operation for instructing the imaging apparatus toperform an initial image photographing operation during the intervalphotographing, and switch from the second power saving mode to the firstpower saving mode immediately after the photographing instruction signalis transmitted to the other apparatus.
 12. The imaging apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to set, in theimaging apparatus, a photographing parameter including the photographinginterval specified by the operation section, and transmit thephotographing parameter to the other apparatus from the wirelesscommunication unit so as to instruct the other apparatus to set thephotographing parameter.